Conclusion:
The 200GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 SATA NCQ drives earn praise for several reasons. The results from the various tests show that this generation of drives provides a performance boost over the previous generation, whether the system is capable of implementing NCQ or not. The availability of NCQ just makes the drives even more appealing for those with a system (or controller) capable of taking advantage of this new technology. The drives are worth considering by those without NCQ support, as the solid performance on their present system will only be enhanced by a future upgrade to NCQ, and the additional cost for this feature is minimal.
Speaking of the cost, a 200GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 SATA NCQ drive sells for as little as $108 (US), according to a search of PriceGrabber. Fifty four cents per GB is definitely a solid value in my mind. The 7200.7 version of this drive is still readily available, and costs about the same amount of money (lowest found was fifty two cents per GB), making the inclusion of NCQ on the 7200.8 drive even more appealing. As compared to other manufacturers the Seagate price is quite competitive, as you can have a 200GB Western Digital or a 200GB Maxtor for about the same price. What the similar prices do not reflect is that the reference Western Digital drive does not support NCQ, and both the Maxtor and Western Digital drives come with a three year warranty.
The 200GB Barracuda 7200.8 SATA NCQ drive, as well as all other products from Seagate, carries a five year manufacturer's warranty. Although one hopes to never have to pursue a warranty claim, it is reassuring to see a manufacturer stand behind their products for as long as possible. Five years is a significant amount of time, and Seagate really stands out from the crowd with such an offering.
If 200GB isn't the capacity for you, the 7200.8 series of drives is also available in 250GB, 300GB, and 400GB sizes. Smaller capacities aren't available, but storage space is a hot commodity, and these drives make it affordable to have ample space.
There are no real negatives to report on these drives. The only thing that may be worth considering when shopping for SATA hard drives is that SATA II drives have already hit the market. The performance boost from SATA I to SATA II can theoretically double the speed, but compatibility and availability of controllers and drives is the present limitation. As more drives and controllers supporting SATA II become available, the appeal of drives such as the Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 may fade, but only time will tell how fast that will happen.
Given the performance, value, and exceptional warranty, I award the 200GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 SATA NCQ drives a final rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars... "Highly Recommended".
Final Rating (4.5 out of 5 stars):  
Pros:
• Solid performance
• Excellent value
• Lower operating temperatures than previous generation
• Five year warranty
Cons:
• SATA II drives already available
Special thanks to Seagate for providing the 200GB Barracuda 7200.8 SATA NCQ drives to Bigbruin.com for review!
Please drop by the Bigbruin.com Forum and feel free to discuss this review.
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